Love transcends: how a Chinese family cares for their Malay neighbour

BUTTERWORTH – Though of different religions and ethnicities, it is not an excuse for a Chinese family to not love and help their neighbour, an elderly Malay man at Kampung Guar Guar here.

In fact, the family of Oei Ah Sin, 84, is willing to build a small hut in front of the house of Hashim Rejab, 88, so that they can take care of him more easily every day.

The relationship between the neighbors for the past five decades is similar to a family as Hashim, who is still single, loves Ah Sin's four children very much.

Ah Sin, when met by The Vibes, said Hashim often takes her children for walks, eats, and buys toys, every time the man receives his salary.

"He is very kind. If my children sulk with me for being scolded, they will go to Hashim’s house, and Hashim will take care of them and treat them like his own son.

“So, I think, it’s time for us to reciprocate his kindness and take care of him because he is not just our neighbor, but he is a member of our family,” said Ah Sin, who considers Hashim as a brother.

During a visit to Hashim's house, which is located about 10 metres from Ah Sin's house, The Vibes was surprised to see that Hashim still kept old toys and Ah Sin's family photo album, which were placed in a special cupboard.

Hashim, who is in a wheelchair, still remembers well every memory with Ah Sin's children as he flips through each sheet of the photo album.

Hashim said he loved Ah Sin's children and considered them as members of his own family even though they were not related by blood.

“I still keep all of Ah Sin's children's toys because that is the only memory left. Now, if Ah Sin's grandchildren and great-grandchildren come home, they will play at my house.

"I have never considered them a burden. They are my family,” he added.

Currently, Hashim's welfare affairs are taken over by Ah Sin's youngest son, Liang Kok Hwa, 43, who lives at his mother's house and opened a motorcycle workshop business near the neighborhood.

Apart from Kok Hwa, his other three siblings, Liang Kok Cheng, 61, Liang Ai Sim, 52, and Liang Kok Chai, 50, now live in Kedah and Johor.

Kok Hwa said his daily routine is to ensure Hashim's health and buy food for Hashim, while his mother will help tidy up Hashim's house.

“Uncle Hashim is my father since my father died when I was 10-years-old.

"Since Uncle Hashim's illness, my family and I have never gone far and left Uncle Hashim for more than two days because we are worried about his health," he added.

It is understood that Hashim, who has no family heirs, depends on his retirement money as a worker in a brick factory, and assistance from the Social Welfare Department of RM500 - The Vibes, April 5, 2021.